For Immediate Release:
May 08, 2007
Contact:   Melanie McDonald

Saint Mary's College Gala Honors Area Volunteers

NOTRE DAME, Ind.-- Saint Mary's College will host Down the Avenue, a benefit gala, on Tuesday evening, June 12 in the Student Center and Noble Family Dining Hall. Members of the Michiana community will gather to recognize local volunteers for their work and to celebrate the ways in which Saint Mary's College and the community work together to help those in need.

Saint Mary's will honor three women with the Spirit of Service Award for their volunteerism:   South Bend resident Ernestine M. Raclin , Saint Mary's College graduating senior Angeline Johnson, and Sister Mary Edith Daley, CSC.  

Ernestine Raclin is a longtime Michiana community member whose leadership roles have frequently included serving as the "first or only woman." Serving as Chairwoman Emeritus of 1st Source Corporation and 1st Source Bank, Raclin was the first woman to sit on the First National Bank of Chicago, the NIPSCO board, the MidCon Board, and the People's Energy Board. In addition, she was the first woman to chair the Indiana University South Bend Advisory Board, the first woman to chair a Notre Dame campaign, the first woman to serve on the Chamber of Commerce board and lead Project Future, the first woman to serve on United Way of America as Director and Treasurer for the Board of Governors, and the first woman to chair the local United Way campaign.

Angeline Johnson is a senior business major from Portage, Indiana. She has volunteered extensively at Saint Mary's, the University of Notre Dame, and in the Michiana community. She served as a reading tutor at Marquette Primary Center and established a mentoring program for Hispanic high school students at Washington High School. Johnson has also been involved with the Minority Health Coalition of South Bend and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. In addition, she is a member of the Sudan Awareness Committee and the Latino Leadership Council at Notre Dame. At Saint Mary's, she is a member of the Enrollment Management Committee and is on the search committee for the Admission Multicultural Coordinator. She also served as tri-chair for the Diverse Student Leadership Conference and is President of La Fuerza, educating the campus about minority issues and Latin culture.

Sister Mary Edith Daley, CSC, has served as a lifelong advocate for the cause of social justice in Michiana's neighborhoods. Her volunteer responsibilities have included Program Director for the Diocesan Task Force on Poverty and Justice, Executive Director for the Diocesan Human Development Commission, and Diocesan representative for the Indiana Catholic Bishops Center for State Legislative Decision. She has also had extensive involvement with the Forever Learning Institute, serving as Public/Community Service Organization Director, Executive Director, and Reorganization Consultant. Sister Mary Edith currently serves as Director for Area V Literacy Program. Other volunteer commitments include: membership in the United Religious Community and the Commission on Human Development; Regional Superior for the Midwest High School Sisters; co-founder of the Justice and Peace Center; Coordinator for the Holy Cross Tutoring Program; and facilitator for the Life Stages Program at Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center.

Proceeds from Down the Avenue will benefit the Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE), a volunteer services program at Saint Mary's College.   Proceeds from 2007 Down the Avenue will make it possible for OCSE to expand its summer internship partnership with local agencies and enhance its Marquette Primary Center After School Program .   In addition, the College will endow a Spirit of Service Scholarship in honor of Ernestine Raclin for a Saint Mary's student who is an active volunteer in the Michiana community.

This is the third Down the Avenue at Saint Mary's.   Nearly $250,000 was raised for OCSE from the 2002 and 2005 Down the Avenue events.  

The public is invited to purchase tickets to the event. Ticket prices begin at $150 for one person and $500 for two. For reservations or more information, please call Saint Mary's College at 574-284-4591 or e-mail downtheavenue@saintmarys.edu.

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